Feeding means for recording machines



March 24, 1942. A SHERMAN ETAL 2,277,156 r J FEEDING MEANS FOR RECORDING MACHINES Original Filed Aug. 29, 1933 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l /Z; I I

. a mvzzvroms q m I -ATTORNEY Y March 24, 1942. SHERMAN ETAL 2,277,156

FEEDING MEANS FOR RECORDING MACHINES- Original Filed Aug. 29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @atefiteri Mar. 2%, 13342 FEEDG Means FOR RECUING ll ES John Q. Shen and Albert W. Metlmer, Dayton, Ohio; said Metzner assignor to said Sherman; Katherine M. Sherman, William S. Sherman, and Wellmore B. Turner executors of said Jo Q. Sherman, deceased Original application-August 29, 1933, "serial No.

687,303. Divided and this application (October 15, 1936, Serial No. 106,586

11 ens. (c1. 197-133) This invention relates to writing machines, and

more particularly, to paper feeding means for are axially adjustable toward and from each I other to agree with material of different widths, the pin wheel units being rotatable in unison in all positions of axial adjustment.

The feeding pins of the several units are retractably mounted for progressive projection into and, withdrawal from engagement with series punched holes in the writing material in unison with rotation of the platenroll and further are caused to be projected at effective and ineffective positions at will whereby the material may be which the pins are projected per se forms the subject matter of Letters Patents of the United States, Nos. 2,000,649 and 2,000,651, to which cross reference is made.

In the present instance there is shown a platen roll with which is associated one pinwheel unit while a second pin wheel unit is axially adjustable in parallel oflset relation with the platen roll, with which it is operatlvely connected for unison rotation.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of positive feeding/ devices for writing machineswhereby they may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient' in use, automatic in action,.uniform'in Operation, capable'of a wide range of adjustment and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pin' wheel type of feeding mechanism applicable sion of feeding mechanism readily adaptable for positively feeding record material of difierent widths.

A further object of the invention is to provideadjustable pin wheel a platen roll and axially units cooperating therewit A further object of the invention is to provide positive feeding means for different widths of writing material usable alternately with frictional feeding means therefor having the advantageous features and desirable characteristics hereinafter described.

With. the above primary and other incidental I objects in view, as will morefully appear in. the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof; and the mode of operation, or its equivalent, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the, accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view .of a conventional typewriter to which the present invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the platen roll and pin type feeding assembly.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail end elevations viewed in opposite directions.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the platen roll and pin type feeding assembly removed from' the writing machine.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of trated in Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views illustrating the positive pin type feeding means and the assembly illus the frictional feeding means in alternate condi-- tion.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a positive pin type feeding device and the adjusting means therefor. Y

Typewriters, recording and computing machines and other writing machines are ordinarily equipped with platen rolls of the friction type about which writing material is advanced by pressure rollers frictionally engaging the-underside of-the platen roll. However, in the manifolding of copies upon superposed sheets of writto typewriters, computingand recording machines which will be interchangeable with the usual frictional type platen roll with which such machines are originally equipped.-

A further object of the invention is the proviing material much-difiiculty has been experienced in maintaining printed forms upon the superposed record. strips in accurate alignment and registry with'each other. The present strip feeding mechanism provides means for positively feeding superposed record strips in accurate registry and alignment, with each other and is interchangeable with the usual friction type platen "roller ordinarily found in writing machines. It

, taper pointed feeding pins 5. The pin wheel unit -2 is fixedly secured upon the shaft I by a set screw 6 carried in a hub 1 projecting from the lateral face of the pin wheel unit. Associated with the pin wheel unit 2 and connected thereto for unison rotation, is the platen roll I2. Surrounding the shaft I is a concentric sleeve 8 capable of a limited rocking motion, although it isnormally stationarily held in one position or the other of such rocking adjustment. Carried upon the rock sleeve 8 is an eccentric cam 23 interiorly of the pin wheel .unit 2. The eccentric cam 23 is provided with a lateral flange 24 engaging within notches in the reciprocatory feeding pins 5 of the pin wheel unit. The pin wheel unit is connected to the shaft I and also connected with the platen cylinder I2 for unison rotation relative to the stationarily held rock sleeve 8 and the eccentric cam 23 carried thereby, by the action of the usual line spacing mechanism of the writing machine. As the platen cylinder I2 and interconnected pin wheel unit rotate about V catory motion during part of such travel by which they are projected beyond the periphery of the pin wheel unit'and platen cylinder as they approach the high side of the: eccentric cam 23.- As

the pins travel beyond such high side of the eccentric cam they are automatically retracted thereby stripping or disengaging them from the marginally punched writing material with which they engage when in their extended position, thus not only freeing the paper withoutstrain or mutilation but also enabling the pins to clear contiguous portions of the writing machine with which they would interfere in their extended relation.

By rocking the sleeve 8 and with it the pin control cam 23 the pins are caused to project beyond the periphery of the platen roll at a different circumferential position. This enables the feeding pins 5 to be projected into position to operatively engage withthe marginally punched writing material to progressively feed suchmaterial positively as the platen roll revolves, or the pins may be caused to project beyond the periphery of the platen cylinder in ineffective or inoperative position wherein they do not engage the writing material.

The particular pin wheel unit and mode of operation hereinbefore described is that disclosed in the aforementioned Letters Patents of the United States 2,000,649 and 2,000,651 and is here shown and described for illustrative purposes but with no intent to unduly limit the application or scope of the present invention to the use of such shaft 42 is a second pin e l unit 6 s i ely specific pin feeding devices. It will be understood that other forms of travelling pin type feeding devices may be employed in lieu thereof.

For selectively'feeding the record material impositively or frictionally, independently of the aforementioned pin type feeding devices, the usual pressure rollers 21 customarily found in conventional writing and computing machines are utilized with the present platen roll for fric- 10 tionally feeding the writing material in an'ordinary manner. Thus by the to and fro rocking adjustment of the sleeve 8 and with it the pin control cam 23 the present platen rcll may be readily and 'quickly adapted for either positively feeding the writing material by progressive engagement therewith of the feeding pins 5, or such writing material may be frictionally or impositively fed by the cooperation of the usual pressure rolls 21 with the surface of the platen cylinder I2 in which case the feeding pins 5 are pro- 25 vided beyond the extremity of the platen roll I2 with a peripherally notched disc 28 secured thereto which may be grasped to turn the sleeve 8 from one position to the other and within one or the other of the peripheral notches of which a detent 29 engages. This detent in the present instance is illustrated as a spring pressed plunger carried upon a laterally projecting ear 30 extending from a disc 3| fixedly secured by set screw 32 to a second stationary disc 33 having a bifurcated arm 34 straddling a convenient frame rod 36 of the writing machine. By disengaging the spring pressed detent plunger from the notch of the disc 28 the latter may be rotated to adjust g the cam 23 from one position to the other to pro- 4 O ject the pins ineffective or ineffective relation with the writing material, in either of which positi'onsthe cam is held by the reengagement of the detent 29 with the disc 28.

The pressure rollers 21 for frictionally ad- 5 vancing the recording material alternately with its advancement by the feeding pins 5 are likewise adjustable into and out of operative relation with the platen cylinder by means of the usual finger lever 31a mounted upon the platen 56' carriage of the writing machine and connected with the pressure roller mounting by a link 31. This construction is typical of writing machines now in use.v It enables the pressure roller 21 to be employed for feeding the record material frictionally or impositively, alternately with the advancement of the material positively bythe radially projecting feeding pins 5.

Mounted in parallel relation with the platen roll I2 is countershaft 42 carrying at one end thereof a gear wheel 43 intermeshing with the idler pinion 44 which in turn meshes with a gear wheel 45 connected to the platen shaft I and rotating in unison with the platen roll I2. The countershaft 42 is thus rotated in unison with the platen roll I2. Mounted upon the counteradjust-able upon the countershaft 42 into registry with the marginally punched holes of writing material of various widths, the feeding holes in v the opposite margin of which register with and are engaged by the feeding pins of the .pin wheel for independent axial adjustment thereon. It

may be held in various positions of axial adjustthrough the slot in the paper guide 49 which inent to agree withthe width of the writing material to be fed by means of a collar 41 splined upon the shaft 42 and having a set screw, or other suitable detent means for securing it in its adjusting position. A slotted paper guide 49 is carried by the collar 41 and overhangs the marginally punched material engaged by the feeding pins of the pin wheel unit 46 which project through the holes in the material and thence loosely retains the paper in feeding engagement with the pins and prevents its accidental displacement therefrom. Theconstruction and operation of the pin wheel unit 46 is substantially identical with that of the pin wheel unit 2 heretofore described. By rocking the pin control cam to ineffective position the position of projection of the feeding pins 5 is changed from paper engag ing relation into an ineffective position thereby enabling the material to be frictionally fed 'by cooperation of the pressure rollers in the manner before described wholly independent of'the pin type feeding devices. In such event if desired or found necessary the adjustable pin wheel unit 46.

may be slidingly adjusted upon the countershaft 42" beyond the margin of the paper being fed and hence out of engaging relationitherewith.

For effecting the adjustment of the feeding pin 5 of the pin wheel unit 46 into and out of eflective relation with the writing lnaterial there is provided upon the countershaft 42 a telescopic tubular extension 50 axially adjustable relative to the countershaft 42-which freely rotates within such tubular extension 50. 'Mounted upon the tubular extension 50 within the pinwheel unit 46 is a pin control cam'similar to the cam 23 before described which by the rocking adjustment of the tubular extension 50 is turned from effectiveto ineffective position and vice versa to change-the position of projection of the pins 5 of the adjustable pin wheel unit 46. The pin wheel unit 46 however is connected to and rotates with the countershaft 42 relative to and about the tubular telescopic extension 6|! and the control cam carried thereby within the unit.

The tubular extension 50' is however axially adjustable with the pin wheel unit .46 to accomjection from efiective to inefiective relation with the writing material and vice versa thus enabling the material to be frictionally fed by the coaction of the pressure roller 21 and the platen I! when the pins are ineffective.

When it is desired to employ the friction rolls 2! cooperatively with the platen roll- I! for advancing the writing material independently of the pin type feeding devices, they are brought into operative relation by adjustment of thefiner control lever 31a, in which case either mar-I ginally punched material or material devoid of marginal feed holes may be advanced past the writing position wholly independently of the pin type feeding devices; The pin type feeding unit 46 is located above the platen r011 -l2 and sufficiently offset rearwardly beyond the normal path of travel of the writing material when being frictionallyfed by the rollers 21 to avoid interfer ence therewith; It is therefore not'necessary nor essential that therock sleeves and pin control cams be adjusted to cause the feeding pins to be projected in abnormal positions during such feeding.

Unpunched record material, or that having feed holes in one margin only may 'be fed about the platen roll and past the writing position by solely by engagement'of either of such devices to the exclusion of the other. The provision of two such devices usable independently or conjointly enables the apparatus to be readily adapted tovarious conditions of use. Likewise to meet different operating requirements, the frictional feeding means andv the pin type feeding means may be used intermittently and alternately to advance the same length of record material past modate writing material of different widths.

Splined upon-the extension 50 is a gearwheel 5| intermeshing with a gear pinion 62 upon the supporting bracket which in turn intermeshes with a gear wheel 64 .mountednpon the sleeve 8 of the platen roll 2 which controls the position of projection of the feeding pins 6 of .the pin wheel .unit 2. The rock sleeve 6 is djustable to alternate position by means 01' the 28 secured thereto and held in its adjusted position by the" detent plunger '29. Any rocking motion of the sleeve 8 to adjust the feed, pins of the pin wheel units 2 is transmitted through the several gears 54, '52 and 5! to the telescopic tubular extension 56 which is correspondingly rocked to adjust the pin control cam within the pin wheel unit .46

and thereby change the position of projection of the pins 6 thereof from effective to ineffective position and vice versa in unison with such adjustment of the feeding pins 5 of the pin wheel unit 2. Thus although the respective pin wheel units are not concentrically mounted, they are nevertheless adjustable axially into differently spaced relation to 'accbmmodate writing material o'fdifierent widths andlikewise the feeding pins of the respective pin wheel units are simultaneously controlled by the-adjustment of the pin shifter disc- 28 to change their positions OI'PI'OI- the writing position, a part'of the travel range by one device and the remainder .by the other device, or each may be usedwholly to the exclusion of the other for advancing different lengths of material relative to the writing position.

The present application is a division of copending application Serial No. 687,303, filed August 29, 1933, which matured as Patent No. 2,067,211, January 12,- 1937.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the char,-

acter described possessing theparticular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable,

but which obviously issusceptible of modificationv inits form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advanta s.

f While in order to comply with the statute, the

invention has been described in language more,

v or less specific as to structural features, it is to j be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures showmbut' that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form. of several modes of putting the invention into effect," and theinvention is there-' fore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described ourinvention, we claim:-

1. In a writing machine wherein a portion of record material having therein parallel successions of spaced feeding holes is progressively advanced past a writing position, a rotary platen roll about which the material advances, a counter shaft in closely adjacent parallel ofiset relation with the platen roll and operatively connected therewith for unison rotation, material feeding means including separate rotary circular groups of radially mounted feeding pins rotating in unison with said shaft in relatively spaced planes of rotation and engageable in the parallel successions of feed holes to advance the material past a writing position, said groups of feeding pins and platen roll being positioned in like relation to the path of travel of the material for engagementfrom the same face thereof, and a rotary disc operable in a plane of rotation inter-. mediate the planes of rotation of the feeding pins, to medially support the material while being advanced by the pins, said groups of feeding pins and supporting disc being axially adjustable one relative to another to accommodate material having difierently located feeding holes.

- 2. In a writing machine wherein a continuous strip of marginally punched record material is to be progressively. advanced past a writing position, a rotary platen roll about which themately engaging the platen roll, at least one of saidv groups offeeding pins being mounted upon said rotary countershaft rotating in a path substantiallv perpendicular to the platen roll and axially adjustable relative to the platen roll to vary'the spaced relation of said rotary groups of feeding pins, and a material supporting disc mounted,

lective dual feeding means'by which the record material may'be advanced either positively or impositively at the election of the operator characterized by a rotary platen roll about which the material'is advanced, a countershaft in offset parallel relation with the platen roll, a single pin type feeding device located in spaced relation beyond the'platen roll, in the direction in which the material is advanced, including a seriesof travelling pins progressively engageable with a series of holes in one margin onlyof the record material and actuated by rotation of the countershaft, said series of traveling pins being adjustable'longitudinally of the countershaft into different strip feeding positions, a gear train transmitting motion from the platen roll to the countershaft, and a slotted member overlying the pin typefeeding device and laterally adjustable in unison therewith through the slot of which the feeding pins project beyond their engagement in the record material.

5. In a manifolding apparatus wherein an as sembly of, superposed strips of series-connected form stationery isprogressively advanced past a wr1ting.p0s1t1on,- by optionally selective dual feeding means by'which the record material may be advanced either-positively or impositively at the election of the operator characterized by a pin type feeding device' located in spaced relation beyond the writing position in thedirection of feedingmovement of the stationery and a second pin ype fi g device mounted for operation'substantially coincident with the writing point,'each including a pluralityof travelling feedingpins engageable simultaneously in'punched feeding holes in one margin'only of the superposed continuous strips of s'eries-connected form station-f ery for simultaneously'advancing all of the strips of the assembly in unison past the writing position, and' means for actuating thesaid pin type feeding devices inunison to effect progressive en- ,gagement of the pins with and disengagement thereof from the stationery and to advance the upon said shaft. for unison rotation in a' plane intermediate the planes of rotation of said groups of feeding pins.

,3. In a writing machine wherein a portion of record materialhaving a succession of spaced feeding holes therein is progressively advanced past a writing position, a platen, universally useable withmarginally punched record material of different widths, a rotary shaft arranged in parallel offset relation with the platen, means for rotating the shaft by rotation of the platen, a plurality of rotary groups of radially mounted feeding pins operable in relatively spaced planes of rotation in unison with rotation of said shaft,

and axially adjustable one: relative to the other and relative to the platen, said pins being progressively engageable in the spaced feeding holes of the record material from the underside thereof to advance the material past the writing position, an axially adjustable rotary disc operable in a plane of rotation intermediate those of the spaced groups of feeding pins for supporting the 'material intermediate its points of engagementwith the feeding pins, the rotary groups of feeding pins and intermediate disc being adapted by their adjustment independently of and relative to the platen roll to accommodate the apparatus to material having feeding holes in differently spaced relation.

4. In a writing machine wherein marginally punched record material is progressively ad- V vanced past a writing position, by optionally sestationery whilethe pins are in engagement therewith, and retaining means overlying the portion of stationery in engagement with the pins toprevent dislodgment therefrom.

"6. In a writing-machine wherein a strip of marginally punched record material is progressively advanced past a writing position, a rotary platen roll about which thematierial is advanced,

frictional feeding means for cooperating there with, a pin type feeding device comprising a sin gle series of travellin-g pins located above the level of and rearwardly offset relative to the platen roll beyond the normal path of advancement of the material by the'frictional rollers engageable in marginally punched holes in one margin only of the record material after the engaged portion thereof has been advanced past the platen roll to continue the advancement thereof independently of the frictional feed ng means, 'and means for actuating the pin type feeding device in synchronism with the rotation of theplaten; 1

7. A writing rzfachine wherein a strip. of record material is progressively advanced past a writin'g .positicn'including' a platen roll about which the record-material is advanced, frictional feeding means cooperative therewith, a'pin type feedin; device located in elevated rearwardly oflset relation with the platen roll out of the normal path of advancement of the material by said frictional feeding means and .-engageable in spaced feedholes in the record s rial when deflected into a path of travel contiguous thereto comprising a travelling succession of spaced feeding pins operable throughout a circuitous path of travel, and a guide member for directing the record material in a path substantially coincident with a portion of the travel of the feeding pns having therein a slot aligned with the path of travel, through which the feeding pins are projected substantially coincident with their engagement in the feed holes of the record material and through which they are retracted substantially coincident with their withdrawal from the record material feed holes, and means for transmitt ng travel motion to'the feeding pins simultaneously with the rotation of the platen.

8. The combination with a writing machine wherein a stripof record material is progressively advanced past a writing position, of a platen roll about which the record material is advanced, by optionally selective dual feeding means by which the record material may be advanced either positively or impositively at the election of the operator characterized by a pin type feeding means located in elevated relation above the level of and rearwardly offset relative to the platen roll, the pins of which are engageable in relatively spaced feed holes in the record material to advance the material past the writing position, and a guide member disposed in parallel relation with the path of travel of the feeding pins of the travelling pin type feeding device having therein an elongated slot within which the pins of said feeding means travel while in engagement with the record material, and means for actuating the travelling pins in unison with rotation of the platen.

9. In a writing machine wherein a continuous strip of record material is progressively advanced past a writing position, a platen roll about which the material is passed, frictional feeding means cooperative therewith to advance the record material past the writing position, means for rendering the frictional means ineffective, a travelling pin type feeding means located in elevated rearwardly offset relation beyond the platen roll out of the normal path of advancement of the material by the frictional feeding means engageable in spaced holes in the record material to advance the material past writing position in lieu of its advancement by the frictional feeding means, and record material guiding means disposed in a generally upwardly and rearwardly inclined position substantially in parallel relation with a portion of the path of travel of the feeding pins for maintaining the material in feeding relation with the travelling pins during its advancement thereby and means for actuating the travelling feeding pins.

10. In an imprinting apparatus for recording indicia at longitudinally spaced intervals pon a continuous strip of record material having therein a succession of longitudinally spaced holes and intermittently advanced past an imprinting position by a traveling series of feeding pins located in spaced relation beyond the imprinting position having progressive engagement in the longitudinally spaced 'holes in the strip, and laterally adjustable relative to the path of travel of the strip into different feeding positions, the combination with such strip of a slotted guide member therefor associated with the feedin pins and overlying the strip during its engagement by said feeding pins, said guide member being mounted for lateral adjustment to and fro in unison with the adjustment of the feeding pins into different feeding positions, the ends of the slotted guide member being upturned to facilitate the entrance and exit of the pins into and out of the slot thereof while in engagement in the holes in the strip.

11. In an imprinting apparatus for recording indicia at longitudinally spaced intervals upon a continuous strip of record material having in one margin thereof a succession of longitudinally spaced holes and intermittently advanced past an imprinting position by a single traveling series of feeding pins located in spaced relation beyond.

into different feeding positions, the ends of the slotted guide member being upturned to facilitate the entrance and exit of the pins into and -Ol1t of the slot thereof while in engagement in the holes in the strip.

JOHN Q. SHERMAN. ALBERT W. METZNER. 

